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ISTANBUL
Istanbul Bosphorus Tour: Cruise & Dolmabahçe Palace
From $149 per person
- Duration: 8–10 hours
- Pick-up: Hotel pick-up included
- Meals: Lunch included · drinks extra
- Entrances: Entrance fees included
- Group: Small group (max 15) or private
- Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours
Tour Overview
Istanbul Bosphorus Tour: Dolmabahçe Palace, Cruise & Pierre Loti Hill
This Istanbul Bosphorus tour combines a palace, bazaars and a boat cruise in one 8–10 hour day. It starts with hotel pick-up and ends at your hotel or in Sultanahmet, with a licensed English-speaking guide.
Mornings go to Dolmabahçe Palace, the Spice Bazaar and the Rüstem Pasha Mosque. After a Turkish lunch you board the boat past Rumeli Fortress, the Maiden’s Tower and waterfront mansions, then ride the cable car up to Pierre Loti Hill for the view. The Dolmabahçe Palace entrance, the boat ticket and the cable car are included; Rumeli Fortress and the Maiden’s Tower are seen from the boat.
It suits first-timers, couples and families. Join the Shared small group (up to 15 people) or book a Private tour with your own vehicle and guide; the program is the same. Compare the 2 Continents tour, browse Istanbul tour packages or read our 7-day Istanbul itinerary.
Highlights
- Dolmabahçe Palace entrance included
- Spice Bazaar and Rüstem Pasha Mosque
- Bosphorus boat cruise
- Pierre Loti Hill by cable car
- Traditional Turkish lunch
- Free pick-up from central hotels
Quick facts
- Best time to visit: April–June and September–November.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes; the day involves a lot of walking.
- Drinks at lunch and tips are not included.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
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09:00Hotel Pick-up
The day begins with hotel pick-up in the city center (Sultanahmet, Taksim, Beşiktaş) in an air-conditioned minivan with your licensed English-speaking guide. On the Shared option you join a small group of up to 15 people; on the Private option the vehicle and guide are yours alone. Times in this program are indicative, and your pick-up time is confirmed with your booking.
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09:45Dolmabahçe Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace stands on the European shore of the Bosphorus and was the last residence of the Ottoman sultans. Your guide leads you through the palace rooms and explains how the court lived in this 19th-century waterfront building. The entrance fee is included.
Entrances: Dolmabahçe Palace: included -
11:30Spice Bazaar & Rüstem Pasha Mosque
The Spice Bazaar, also called the Egyptian Market, is a covered market of spices, teas and Turkish delight where you can browse and taste. Nearby, the Rüstem Pasha Mosque is a small hidden gem decorated with İznik tiles. Please cover shoulders and knees; headscarves are provided at the entrance.
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13:00Traditional Turkish Lunch
Lunch is served at a traditional Turkish restaurant with local specialties and seasonal ingredients, and it is included in the price. Drinks at lunch are not included. It is an unhurried break before the afternoon on the water, and your guide can suggest what to look out for on the cruise.
Meals: Lunch included (drinks not included) -
14:15Bosphorus Cruise
Board a Bosphorus tour boat for the cruise between Europe and Asia; Shared guests cruise with the small group, Private guests with their own party and guide. From the deck you see Rumeli Fortress, the Maiden’s Tower on its islet and the wooden mansions along the shore. The boat ticket is included.
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16:00Pierre Loti Hill by Cable Car
Pierre Loti Hill is in Eyüp, on the European side above the Golden Horn. A cable car carries you up to the hilltop, which offers a panoramic view over the Golden Horn and the old city skyline. Your guide shares the story of the hill and its name before the return.
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17:30Return Transfer
The tour ends with the drive back, with last views of the Golden Horn along the way. You are taken to your hotel or dropped off in the Sultanahmet area, whichever suits you best. Your guide says goodbye there, and the program ends at around 18:00.
Places Along the Route
Spice Bazaar
Opened in the 1660s beside the New Mosque in Eminönü, this L-shaped covered market sells spices, dried fruit, herbal teas and Turkish delight. Stallholders often offer a taste before you buy.
Rumeli Fortress
Seen from the deck, this 15th-century fortress guards the narrowest stretch of the strait. Mehmed II built it in 1452, a year before the conquest of Constantinople, facing the older Anatolian Fortress on the opposite shore.
Maiden’s Tower
A small tower on a rocky islet just off Üsküdar, rebuilt in the 18th century on much older foundations. Over the years it has been a lighthouse and a quarantine station, and many legends are told about it.
Dolmabahçe Palace
Completed in 1856 for Sultan Abdülmecid, Dolmabahçe replaced Topkapı as the seat of the Ottoman court. Its ornate state rooms, crystal staircase and marble façade along the water show the empire’s final century.
Rüstem Pasha Mosque
Sinan designed this small mosque in 1563 for Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha. Raised above street-level shops near the Spice Bazaar, it is lined with bright İznik tiles in tulip and floral patterns.
Pierre Loti Hill
Named after the French novelist Pierre Loti, who is said to have loved this view, the hill above Eyüp looks down the Golden Horn to the old city skyline. A tea garden sits at the top.
Why Choose This Istanbul Bosphorus Tour?
A palace interior, a bazaar, lunch, a Bosphorus boat and a cable car ride fit into one 8–10 hour day on the European side, with the Dolmabahçe Palace entrance, boat ticket and cable car included.
- Pick-up from central districts — An air-conditioned minivan collects you at about 09:00 from hotels in Sultanahmet, Taksim or Beşiktaş. The tour ends around 18:00 at your hotel or in Sultanahmet.
- Dolmabahçe Palace inside — The Dolmabahçe Palace entrance is included, so your licensed English-speaking guide shows you the last residence of the Ottoman sultans before the Spice Bazaar.
- Boat and cable car covered — The Bosphorus boat ticket and the cable car up to Pierre Loti Hill are included, together with the Dolmabahçe Palace entrance. Only drinks at lunch and tips are extra.
- Small group or private — The Shared option is a small group of up to 15 people; the Private option gives you your own vehicle and licensed guide. Both follow the same program, including the 13:00 Turkish lunch.
- Licensed local agency — TÜRSAB A-group licence #18154, Istanbul-based, rated 5.0 on Google (15 reviews), free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start date.
Tour Price & Booking
What’s Included
What’s Not Included
Optional Upgrades
Add these to your request — we confirm availability and the final total before you pay.
Bosphorus dinner cruise with Turkish night show
An evening on the Bosphorus with dinner and a Turkish night show, watching the lit shores of Europe and Asia from the boat.
3.5 Hours · evening View tour →
Private airport transfer (IST)
A private vehicle meets you at Istanbul Airport (IST) and takes you straight to your hotel. Priced per vehicle, not per person.
Istanbul Airport (IST) · Vito View tour →
Princes' Islands day trip
A ferry to Büyükada, where there are no ordinary cars, with an electric vehicle island tour and a seafood lunch.
10 Hours View tour →Have something else in mind? Ask us on WhatsApp
Good to Know
Dolmabahçe Palace Closing Day
Dolmabahçe Palace is closed on Mondays. If you want to travel on a Monday, message us before you book.
Seen From the Boat
Rumeli Fortress and the Maiden’s Tower are seen from the boat; there is no entry to either of them on this tour.
What to Wear
Comfortable walking shoes and a light layer for the boat deck.
Pick-up Times
Pick-up from 09:00; the exact time is confirmed the day before.
Dietary Requirements
Halal and vegetarian options are available. Please tell us about any dietary needs when you book.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, cancel up to 24 hours before the start date.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is non-refundable.
- Changes made less than 24 hours before the start date cannot be accepted.
- If the tour is cancelled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Payment
Reserve now, pay later (no credit card required). Pay after we confirm, via secure link or bank transfer.
What guests say about TourQuaz
"Super und zuverlässige Organisation unseres Fimenausflugs. Zuverlässige Abholungen zu vereinbarten Zeiten und hilfreiche Tips beim Programm vor Ort.
Vielen Dank an das ganze Team. Jeder Zeit wieder!"
"Everything was very good specially the staff there
Special thanks to Mr. Emre for amazing efforts and support during all visit in istany"
"معاملة راقية تجربة تستحق الإشادة شكرا على حسن التعامل"
Frequently Asked Questions
Hotel pick-up and drop-off, a licensed English-speaking guide, the Dolmabahçe Palace entrance, the Bosphorus boat ticket, the cable car to Pierre Loti Hill and a traditional Turkish lunch. Drinks at lunch, tips and personal expenses are extra.
The Dolmabahçe Palace entrance is included. The Spice Bazaar and the Rüstem Pasha Mosque are free to enter, and Rumeli Fortress and the Maiden’s Tower are seen from the boat.
We provide free pick-up from hotels in the city center (Sultanahmet, Taksim, Beşiktaş). For other locations, a small supplement may apply.
Yes, we offer both shared (small group) and private versions of the Bosphorus tour. The shared tour is $149 per person. The private version is priced per person by group size: $349 per person for 2 travelers, $229 for 4 and $189 for 6.
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. For the Rüstem Pasha Mosque, shoulders and knees must be covered.
The tour takes about 8–10 hours. It starts with hotel pick-up at about 09:00 and ends at around 18:00 at your hotel or in Sultanahmet.
Yes. Children 0–2 free, ages 3–7 receive 30% off.
Free cancellation: cancel up to 24 hours before the start date for a full refund. Reserve now, pay later (no credit card required). Pay after we confirm, via secure link or bank transfer.
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